Monday, Jan 28, 2019
Bank of America Supports GLCAC’s Fuel Assistance Program
LAWRENCE – Bank of America has partnered with the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, Inc. to help keep residents impacted by the gas fires warm this winter.
Bank of America recently donated $50,000 to support GLCAC’s fuel and heat assistance programs.
“GLCAC is extremely grateful to Bank of America for this funding and its commitment to the Greater Lawrence community in this time of need,’’ said Evelyn Friedman, executive director of GLCAC. “This is welcome news for families still struggling to recover from the gas disaster.’’
GLCAC also received a $250,000 grant from Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey’s office to help low-income residents who heat with natural gas.
GLCAC will provide funding to residents who qualify for the federal LIHEAP fuel assistance program, but would otherwise not receive financial help due to limited funds, and also those who don’t qualify for the program but make less than 80 percent of the state median income. GLCAC will also use the grant to help residents weatherize their homes.
“The amount of the resources and their flexibility will allow us to help residents weatherize their homes, replace old inefficient boilers and hot water heaters and help with fuel -- all things sorely needed at this moment,’’ Friedman said.
The grants come in the wake of the Sept. 13 gas explosions in the Merrimack Valley that left thousands of residents and businesses without gas service for heating, hot water and cooking.
GLCAC’s fuel assistance is available to help pay a portion of winter heating bills for income-eligible households in Lawrence, Methuen, Andover, North Andover, Reading and North Reading.
For more information, call (978) 681-4950 or visit the LIHEAP program at www.glcac.org.
GLCAC is a multi-faceted social services agency that assisted 32,648 individuals in 2017 through a range of programs including early childhood education, fuel assistance, WIC nutrition assistance, immigration services, lead poisoning prevention, child abuse prevention, English-language lessons, and consumer protection.